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The classroom is constantly changing, but every day after practice Glover Quin and the rest of the Detroit Lions' defensive backs gather for a lesson at what they call Hands School.

One day, they might catch footballs in rapid succession off a Jugs machine. The next, they might sit on the ground while coaches pepper them with passes from different angles. Occasionally, they run through pop-up dummies or behind a goalpost as a way to obstruct their vision while the ball is in the air.

"We work on catching balls and just in terms of distractions, because very rarely does a (defensive back) catch a ball and there's no one in front of him and there are no distractions," safeties coach Alan Williams said. "You're covering a guy, there's a guy coming across your face, and blindly you lose the vision of the ball, then you're catching it. Or you're up in the air and you're covering a guy, and then you hear a, 'Ball, ball, ball.' Or you see the receiver turn, and then you look up and you find it and catch it. Those are things we work on in Hands School."

If there were a valedictorian of Hands School, Quin would be it.

Since Williams and Tony Oden took over as Lions secondary coaches last year and began running players through their gauntlet of post-practice drills, no one in the NFL this side of Odell Beckham Jr. has shown better hands than Quin.

The Pro Bowl safety, in his seventh NFL season, leads the league with eight interceptions since the start of last year and has made many of the highlight variety.

Diving ones and ones where he toe-taps the sideline, deflected ones and ones that he takes back to the end zone for a touchdown as he did last Sunday in an opening loss to the San Diego Chargers.

Quin, who had just eight interceptions in his first five NFL seasons, has matched that total in his past 17 regular-season games entering today's NFC North showdown with the Minnesota Vikings.

He led the league in picks last year and is trying to become the first player since Everson Walls in 1981-82 to accomplish that feat in back-to-back seasons.

"I think, later in my life, I think it'll mean a lot more to me than it meant last year," Quin said of his interception crown. "Last year, it felt good to do it, but the pressure I put on myself is, 'You did it one time, can you do it again?' You don't really have time to celebrate. It's like, 'How can you do it again?' "

Hands School is one way Quin has tried to maintain his edge on a slew of challengers that includes Cleveland Browns safety Tashaun Gipson, who has seven picks since Week 1 of last year, and cornerbacks Aqib Talib (six) of the Denver Broncos and Brent Grimes (six) of the Miami Dolphins.

Williams said Quin is a diligent worker in practice and a copious note-taker in meetings who has developed "fantastic" hands through years of working on his ball skills.

"That's one thing you don't get a lot with players in general, being able to track a deep ball," Williams said. "A lot of guys, I think, come into the league and they've been specializing in football or specializing in AAU basketball. The guys that have played baseball, played centerfield, can track a deep ball in the air. You don't get that a lot, and he's one that has that skill set."

Quin, who starred in football and basketball at North Pike High in Summit, Miss., said he does drills to work on his reaction time and catching ability in practice and throughout the off-season, though he's guarded when it comes to sharing specifics.

"It's the GQ Special," Quin said. "Can't give away all my secrets."

Lions free safety Glover Quin returns an interception for a touchdown in the loss to the Chargers in Week 1 in San Diego.(Photo: Alex Gallardo AP)

Opportunity knocks

When it comes to the art of intercepting passes, Quin said Rule No. 1 is simple: Catch the ball.

"A lot of guys are scared to catch the ball, because it's different," Quin said. "Like as a receiver, they're throwing you the ball and so you're (running with the flight of the ball). As a (defensive back), a lot of times you're running downhill. You're running so the ball is (coming at you)."

A college cornerback who was converted to safety in his third NFL season, Quin always has been a proficient pass catcher.

He had 13 interceptions as a two-way standout at North Pike, according to his college bio, and after a broken arm ended his first season at Southwest Mississippi Community College after two games, Quin had two picks and eight pass breakups in his second junior-college season.

At New Mexico, Quin holds the school record for most career pass breakups with 31 in three seasons, and in 2008 he led the team with five interceptions en route to all-conference honors.

That success taking away the football didn't translate immediately to the NFL, but Quin had a three-interception game — the first three of his career — while playing cornerback in his second season with the Houston Texans, then eagerly accepted a move to safety after the lockout the next year.

In 2011, his first year at safety, Quin went without an interception. He said he played mostly in the box as an underneath cover guy.

He had two picks the next year, then signed with the Lions as a free agent in 2013 and shared free- and strong-safety responsibilities with Louis Delmas. The Lions designated their safeties left and right back then, so Delmas and Quin both played free and strong, depending on the offensive formation.

Last year, paired with his good friend James Ihedigbo, Quin played as a true free safety for the first time in his career, and the move was a hit. He had seven interceptions in 16 games and at 28 made the Pro Bowl for the first time.

"There were times early in my career when I was playing corner, and I'm watching film, and I'm seeing the way the quarterback is throwing the ball, and I'm sitting there like, 'Man, the ball is just up there. Why are you guys not picking this ball off?' " Quin said. "And then when I went to dime I was more playing underneath man-to-man coverage, so I didn't have my eyes on the quarterback. I was basically guarding a guy. But looking at the film, I'd be like, 'Man, can you guys not see this quarterback throwing the ball right there?' Like, overthrows, and they're just not getting it, and I'm just like, 'What?'

"And then even my first year here, I end up catching three (interceptions) on a bum ankle, but me and Lou played left and right, so there'd be times where I might be down on a tight end and a quarterback would make a throw, and I'd be like, 'Dang, I wish I could have had that.'

"And so last year, just being in that position to be able to be like free gun, read the quarterback and be able to make plays on the ball in passing situations, third down when they're throwing the ball, I think that plays a big part, because all of it is opportunity."

Lions free safety Glover Quin returns an interception for a touchdown in the loss to the Chargers in Week 1 in San Diego.(Photo: TNS)

Collecting keepsakes

Williams said Quin's success is a product of more than just opportunity, and he cites a favorite Jim Caldwell saying to prove his point.

"One of the things that Coach Caldwell says is that production is a by-product of hard work, so that's what you get when you put the type of work in that he puts in," Williams said. "There's a lot that goes in before the catch. He's recognizing formations, he's looking to see how his assignment works into the formation of the play, and then him triggering, recognizing it and going at the proper time. And then the finished product is he puts himself in position to let his body work. The interceptions on the sideline, really those are all things that he practices. That's what people don't see there."

Quin's interception last week against the Chargers, on a ball that deflected off receiver Keenan Allen's hands, came about thanks to film study in the days leading up to the game.

The Chargers, on a third-and-1 play early in the second quarter, sent their 22-personnel package of two running backs and two tight ends onto the field. Quin lined up 15 yards behind the line of scrimmage as the Lions' lone deep safety, but he recognized by formation that Allen would run a short drag across the field.

Allen got a free release off the line and was open as the linebackers responsible for covering him got caught up in traffic.

But Quin broke on the play almost immediately at the snap, and when Philip Rivers' pass ricocheted off Allen's hands, Quin made a midstride adjustment, plucked the ball out of the air and ran 31 yards untouched down the sideline for a touchdown.

"Some people say last week, that was just luck," Williams said. "But really he saw that in practice, and he said: 'Hey, Coach, I think I can go down, cut, make that play, the corner will go high, and I can make that play.' Now, he didn't know that it was going to be a deflection, but he said, 'Hey, the guy catches it, I'll make the play and tackle it.' So, we actually had that play in practice and he put himself in a position to make it. Again, it's just a by-product of his preparation."

Of the eight interceptions Quin has in the past season-plus, three have come off deflected passes. The degree of difficulty adds to the sense of amazement at Quin's accomplishments in the defensive backs room.

"Sometimes I'm like, 'Man, how did he come up with that?' " Ihedigbo said.

Quin's interception Sunday was no easy play, reaching behind to corral the ball while running full speed at Allen. But asked about his favorite picks, he said two from last year stand out.

In a Week 7 win over the New Orleans Saints, Quin lulled Drew Brees into a late interception that set up the Lions' game-winning touchdown. A few weeks later, in a Week 14 victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, he made a sliding pick on a Josh McCown pass that glanced off Mike Evans' right hand.

Both of those balls sit encased in glass at his house.

"I keep every ball," Quin said. "Every time I catch an interception, you ain't never seen me spike it. You ain't never seen me throw it back to the ref."

Lions free safety Glover Quin scores a touchdown off an interception against the Chargers during the first half on Sept. 13 in San Diego.(Photo: AP)

Best in the business

In his 15 seasons as an NFL defensive backs coach and coordinator, Williams has worked with some of the game's best safeties.

He was with John Lynch for a season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Bob Sanders and Antoine Bethea during his decade with the Indianapolis Colts, and Harrison Smith for two seasons in Minnesota.

Quin, Williams said, stands apart.

"I've coached some pretty good ones, and I think he's the best safety in the league," Williams said. "I do. He does everything, and the thing that people do not see, one of the reasons — not the only reason, but one of the reasons — why we were so good, he's a phenomenal tackler in the open field. He gets guys down on the ground."

Quin appreciates the compliments, but coming off last year, he knows he still has work to do.

Offenses have paid more mind to him since he has established himself as one of the best at his position, and he's not ready to relinquish the interception crown yet.

Talib and Kansas City Chiefs rookie Marcus Peters already have two picks this year, and Quin will be on patrol for more today against Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, whose number he had with two interceptions last year.

"I think later in my life when maybe I'm retired, I can sit back and say: 'You know what, that was a crazy year, 2014,' " Quin said. "Led the NFL, little guy like me from Summit, Miss., went to little old bitty North Pike High School, played at Southwest Mississippi Community College, fourth-round draft pick out of the University of New Mexico as a corner, got moved to safety in the lockout year, and I led the league in interceptions. The league, like, the whole league. It'll probably be like, 'Wow,' when I'm done."

The pick: Playing as the lone deep safety, Quin jumps in front of a floater from Eli Manning intended for Victor Cruz.

The result: Lions win, 35-14.

Week 6 at Vikings

The situation: First-and-10, Lions' 15, 7:42 left first quarter.

The pick: Lined up again as the lone deep safety, Quin stayed home on a play-action fake from Teddy Bridgewater and jumped a post to Cordarrelle Patterson in the end zone.

The result: Lions win, 17-3.

Week 7 vs. Saints

The situation: Third-and-9, Saints' 29, 3:20 left in fourth quarter.

The pick: Quin and James Ihedigbo switched safety positions just before the snap, and Quin stepped in front of a slow-developing in-route to Marques Colston. The interception set up the Lions' game-winning touchdown.

The result: Lions win, 24-23.

Week 13 vs. Bears

The situation: Second-and-3, Bears' 10, 9:38 left fourth quarter.

The pick: Darius Slay jumped to deflect an underthrown Jay Cutler pass to Brandon Marshall, and Quin made a diving catch for the pick.

The result: Lions win, 34-17.

Week 14 vs. Buccaneers

The situation: Third-and-10, Buccaneers' 20, 10:08 left second quarter.

The pick: Quin made a sliding interception near the sideline after Josh McCown's pass glanced off Mike Evans' right hand.

The result: Lions win, 34-17.

Week 15 vs. Vikings

The situation: Third-and-8, Lions' 48, 4:40 left second quarter.

The pick: Playing in a two-deep safety look, Quin intercepted an overthrown Bridgewater pass to Charles Johnson and returned it 56 yards to set up a touchdown.

The result: Lions win, 16-14.

Week 16 at Bears

The situation: Fourth-and-10, Bears' 45, 2:02 left fourth quarter.

The pick: Playing in a two-deep safety look, Quin ran from the numbers to the sideline to intercept a deep Jimmy Clausen pass to Alshon Jeffery. After a replay review, officials determined he tapped his second foot down before falling out of bounds.

The result: Lions win, 20-14.

2015

Week 1 at Chargers

The situation: Third-and-1, Chargers' 31, 12:37 left second quarter.

The pick: The Lions' lone deep man, Quin caught a Philip Rivers pass that deflected off Keenan Allen's hands and returned it 31 yards for his first career touchdown.

The result: Lions lose, 33-28.

Tops at Turnovers

Lions safety Glover Quin is one of four players with more than five interceptions since the start of the 2014 season. The list:

Brent Grimes, Dolphins

6

Touchdowns: 1

Aqib Talib, Broncos

6

Touchdowns: 3

Tashaun Gipson, Browns

7

Touchdowns: 1

Glover Quin, Lions

8

Touchdowns: 1

CLOSE

In this week's episode of the Lions podcast, Dave Birkett interview's new tight end Tim Wright, who's had a whirlwind journey in the NFL.